The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that it has launched an immediate investigation into the alleged animal abuse at the S Bagshaw and Sons abattoir, and stopped any further processing at the site.

Covert video footage filmed by Hillside animal sanctuary appeared to show a range of abuses to pigs, cattle and sheep at the slaughterhouse in Butterton near Leek.

The FSA launched the investigation in conjunction with Staffordshire County Council following the release of video, and said two people shown in the footage have had their slaughter licences suspended. Furthermore, a notice preventing further processing at the site has been issued “pending more evidence being gathered as part of our detailed investigation”.

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has reacted to the footage with the following statement: “The BMPA deplores the instances of animal cruelty in certain abattoirs that have been exposed in recent days. This kind of behaviour has no place in today’s modern meat industry and cannot be tolerated. The great majority of slaughterhouse operators meet their legal and moral responsibilities to treat animals humanely, and we roundly condemn those who fail to live up to these responsibilities.”